Ground-pipe cap.



P. F. WILLIAMS. GROUND PIPE GAP.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909. 2 BEBE BET 1.

jMZZza P. I. WILLIAMS. GROUND PIPE CAP. APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 190s.

Patnted 0911191909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENT OFFICE,

PAUL F. WILLIAMS, 01E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GROUND-PIPE CAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

Application filed April 15, 1908. Serial No. 427,275.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL F. W'ILLIA B, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ground-Pipe Caps, I of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming In the arrangement herein set forth for carrying out my invention, I provide a cap of suitable material; as for example, castiron, which is adapted to fit the upper end of the ground pipe and so permit the cap to be hammered to drive the pipe Into the ground. The cap is also provided with a space of some sort,capable of accommodating a wire when the cap is placed upon the top of the pipe, and fitting so closely upon the wire that a tight joint or connection 1s made between the'wire and pipe. In the accompanying drawings, I have shown several different forms, or types, of cap, capable of bringing about this result. In some of them I have a strai ht groove for accommodating the wire, whi e in another form I'have a spiral groove for the same. In certain forms I have a centrally dis osed plugshaped member, which is capab e of fitting into the interior of the ground pipe when the cap is placed on theend of the same.

Referring more particularly to these figures, Figure 1 is an elevation of a ground ipe, having a cap embodying my present invention, together with a ground wire, connected with said pipe by said cap. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2, 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a cap removed from the pipe. Fig.4 is a top plan, and Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the ca Fi s. 6 7, 8 and 9 are vertical sections 0 modi ed orms of caps, embodying the invention. Fi 10 is a detail of the form of cap shown in 1g. 6. Referring first to the form of device shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, I have shown a ground pipe land cap 2, serving as a means for permitting or facilitating the drawing of the pipe 1 into the ground, and a ground wire 3 connected with the ground pipe 1 by the ca 2. The pipe 1 is understood to be any Iorm o ground pipe, such as an iron or steel as ipe or the like, and the cap 2 is made 0 suitable material, preferably cast-iron. The wire 3 is any desired form of ground wire, such as a bare condu'ctor. The cap 2 has a suitable exterior form, and has a bore substantially the size of the pipe 1, so as to fit snugly upon the upper end of said pipe. The cap is provided with a longitudinally extending side groove 4, ada ted to receive and accommodate the groun wire 3. The lower edge,-or rim, 5, of the cap 2 is desirably rounded, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to permit the pipe to be'worked as the cap descends, and the lower lar ed at its lower end, as shown at 6, at which point also the lower edge or of the cap: is shortened or cut away, as shown at 7, igs. 1, 2 and 3, whereby the wire is prevented from being torn or out as the cap is driven down upon the pipe. The cap is also desirably provided with a transversely extending groove 8 at its upper end, capable of receiving the ground wire 3. Thus the end of the round wire can enterthis groove 8, should tfie'portion of the wire inside the cap be forced upwardly by the drivin of the cap upon the ound pipe. This orm of cap can be readi y and conveniently made by casting it in the form shown, in which there is a slight side enlargement 9, forming the side groove 4.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a cap 2 of simple form, having a side clamp member 10, capable of receiving the ground wire 3. This clamp member 10 is conveniently formed of two pieces 10' 10", Fig. 10, having grooves to form a channel for the ground wire. As the cap is driven upon the ground pipe, the clamping member ecomes tightened, so as tho firmly grasp the wire between its memers.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a simple form of cap 2 aving a spiral groove 11, ca able of receiying the coiled or spiraled en of the ound wire.

1 In Fi 8 I have shown a cap 2", having e centra plug member 12, capable of entermg the upperend of the pipe 1. Que side of the cap and the adjacent side of the plug 12 end of the groove 4 is slightly flared and en-- are provided with longitudinally extending groove 13 and 14, ca able of receiving the ground wire and ma 'ng tight connection with same. In Fig. 9 I have shown a quite similar construction, except that there is a center plug 12 which is slightly tapering, Whereas the plug 12 of the device of Fig. '8 is not taperin Thus it wilfim seen that by my invention I provide a device which can be applied to the upper end of a ground pipe, and when so applied the pipe can be driven into the ground without injuring it, and with more convenience and effectiveness than if the pipe itself were struck. At the same time the connection is made between the ground wire and the pipe, and this connection is tight, effective and efiicient; I have shown several styles of cap for accomplishing this, and itwill be understood that various other styles ortypes can be designed and made w1thout departing from the spirit of the invention. What I claim is: i 1. A device of the class specified, comprising a cap capable of fittin upon the upper end of a ground pipe, and having a space or recess adapted to accommodate-the end portion of a ground wire, whereby the pipe can be driven into the ground and connection made between it and the ground wire at the same time.

2. Means for connecting a conductor to a pipe or similar device, comprising a cap adapted to fit upon and slide down the end portion of the pipe, and having a space to receive the conductor and bind it to the pipe when the ca is slid upon the latter.

3. Means f or connecting a conductor to a pipe or the like, comprising a cap ada ted to fit and slide upon the end portion 0 the pipe or device, and having a groove suiticiently large to accommodate a loop portion of the conductor.

4. A device of the class specified, comprising a cap capable of fitting upon the upper end of a ground pipe and having a longi tudinally extending side groove, the lower edge of the cap being rounded and being cut away at the lower end of said side move.

5. A device of the class specifiefcomprising a cap adapted to fit and slide upon the pipe and having space to accommodate the conductor to cause such conductor to be bound against the pipe when the cap is slid A down over the same, the cap also having a tongue arranged to fit within the interior of the pipe.

Inv witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this tenth day of A ril A. D., 1908.

PAUL F. ILLIAMS. Witnesses:

A. MILLER BELFIELD, C. B. CAMPBELL. 

